Eagles return to Super Bowl after scoring most points ever in a conference title game vs. commanders

On By Littum

Entering their bye week, the Philadelphia Eagles were 2-2. They were blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4. In late September, there was more talk of head coach Nick Sirianni possibly being fired and what was wrong with the Eagles than any hope of a special season.

Since the end of September, the Eagles have lost just once and are on their way to Super Bowl Lix.

Eagles ’15. victory in their last 16 attempts was a 55-23 victory over the Washington Chiefs in the NFC Championship Game, The Record for most points ever scored in a conference title game.

Jayden Daniels did his best, completing 29 of 48 passes for 255 yards and two total touchdowns, but fell short of becoming the first rookie quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl. Instead, the Commanders self-destructed with bad time penalties and also four turnovers that led to four Eagles touchdowns. Give Philadelphia credit for taking advantage.

It was a complete Eagles performance that showed why they are headed to the Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts had his best game of the fall, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for more than 200 yards for the first time this postseason, finishing 20-of-28 for 246 yards. Saquon Barkley was big again, with a huge 60-yard touchdown on his first touch and 118 yards rushing with three total scores.

Philadelphia’s defense gave up some yards and points, but made enough big plays to help the offense. It was First time since the 1940 NFL Championshipwon 73-0 by the Chicago Bears, with Washington allowing six rushing touchdowns in one game.

The Eagles have a Super Bowl championship that came seven years ago over the New England Patriots. Two seasons ago, they were tied in the final minutes against the Kansas City Chiefs before losing. The way the Eagles have played over the last four months, they have a good shot to make up for this loss to the Chiefs and claim the second Lombardi Trophy.

Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are headed back to the Super Bowl. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are headed back to the Super Bowl. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are headed back to the Super Bowl. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

The Commanders couldn’t afford huge mistakes with turnovers in Philadelphia. In the first half they made two.

After Barkley broke off a 60-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ first offensive play, quarterback receiver Dyami Brown had the ball knocked out by Eagles All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun. The Eagles recovered in Washington territory and had a short drive capped by Barkley’s second touchdown run to take a 14-3 lead.

The Commanders stuck in the game and got a touchdown from Terry McLaurin to cut Philly’s lead to 14-12. But the Eagles drove for a touchdown in the final two minutes of the half, and then things got really bad. Washington’s Jeremy McNichols fumbled away the kickoff return, an unnecessary roughness penalty on cornerback Mike Sainristil for hitting Barkley out of bounds kept Philadelphia’s drive alive and with 39 seconds left in the half, AJ Brown scored. That put the Eagles ahead 27-12.

The commanders had not played it badly. They kept drives alive with key and fourth-and-down conversions. Aside from Barkley’s first run, they did a good job containing him in the first half. A field goal in the final seconds of the half helped. But giving up touchdown drives of 48 and 24 yards off turnovers was a brutal turn of events. Without those two mistakes, they probably wouldn’t have trailed 27-15 at halftime.

The Commanders are still a season or two away from having a roster like the other three teams in the conference championship round. They still had a chance Sunday because of Daniels. But Daniels’ teammates weren’t up to the task.

Another fumble by Austin Ekeler late in the third quarter at about midfield led to another short field for an Eagles touchdown drive. Hurts came in on a tush push and the Eagles led 41-23. That score came after several offsides penalties on Washington at the goal line, prompting the referee to warn the commanders that if it continued, the officials could award the Eagles a touchdown.

The Eagles are too good to give points to. The Commanders gave them three touchdowns off fumbles. As much as Daniels tried to keep his team in the game, he couldn’t overcome the big gap. The Eagles eventually turned it into a blowout in the fourth quarter. Barkley’s third touchdown of the game, putting the Eagles ahead 48-23, allowed Eagles fans to start their celebration early. Will Shipley scored the final touchdown on a 2-yard run with just over three minutes remaining.

The Eagles started the season slowly and it looked like a continuation of last season’s collapse. But they always had the talent to go on a long winning streak and look like the best team in the NFL. If they can play one more game like they did Sunday, this season that started with so many questions could end with a championship.

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  • Magic Johnson post-game thoughts

    Magic Johnson, who owns a 4% stake in the Commanders, chimed in on his team’s loss

  • Final statistics

    Commanders

    Total offense: 350 yards
    Jayden Daniels: 29/48, 255 yards, 1 TD, 1 int; 6 rushes, 48 ​​yards, 1 TD
    Zach Ertz: 11 catches, 104 yards
    Terry McLaurin: 3 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD

    Eagles

    Total offense: 459 yards
    Jalen hurts: 20/28, 246 yards, 1 TD; 3 rushing TDS
    Saquon Barkley: 15 rushes, 118 yards, 3 TD
    AJ Brown: 6 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD

    * 7 Rushing TDS

  • Final: Eagles 55, Commanders 23

    The Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl after a 55-23 victory over the Chiefs in the NFC Championship game.

    Philadelphia is playing in its second Super Bowl in three seasons. Will they have another battle with the bosses?

  • Philadelphia’s 55 points are tied for seventh most points ever in an NFL playoff game, According to Statmuse.

    However, it is not the most that the Eagles have scored in a playoff game. They scored 58 on the Lions in 1995.

    The NFL record is 73 points by the Bears over Washington in 1940.

  • The Eagles set a conference championship game scoring record

    The last team to crack 50 in a conference championship was the Bills…in 1991!

  • The Eagles didn’t even wait until the 2 minute warning before dumping Gatorade on Nick Sirianni.

  • Touchdown: Eagles 55, Commanders 23

    After this 57-yard run, Shipley also gets a touchdown.

    The Eagles have rushed for seven touchdowns today/

  • 230 yards rushing for Philadelphia

  • Eagles rip off another long run

    This time it was Will Shipley, not Saquon Barkley. But the rookie drives for 57 yards on first-and-10 from the Eagles’ 36-yard line.

  • Jayden Daniels intercepted by Quinyon Mitchell

    Jayden Daniels’ deep throw to Terry McLaurin is picked off in the end zone by Quinyon Mitchell. This play was likely already decided, but with 4:57 left, the interception essentially seals the Eagles’ victory.

  • Jalen Hurts sets NFL postseason history

  • The Eagles’ 48 points are the most they have scored this season

  • Touchdown: Eagles 48, Commanders 23

    After a pass interference penalty puts the ball at the Washington 8-yard line, the Eagles enter the end zone on two plays. A 4-yard catch by Dallas Goedert is followed by a 4-yard score by Saquon Barkley, his third TD of the game.

  • Slow flag on this pass interference penalty, but it was an obvious grab by Jeremy Chinn.

  • “The defense must not commit successive or repeated fouls to prevent a score”

    The officials threatened to award Philadelphia a touchdown and straight from the NFL rulebook, here’s how it could have happened via ESPN’s Jeff Darlington:

  • A tale of 3 interventions

    Here’s a compilation of all three of Washington’s pass-rushing penalties, the referee saying a TD could have been awarded to the Eagles, and Jalen Hurts’ score.

  • Touchdown: Eagles 41, Commanders 23

    After three interference penalties on the command, the Eagles’ brotherly push breaks through for a touchdown. Jalen Hurts has his third rushing TD of the game.

  • After three consecutive interference penalties inside the 1-yard line, the commanders are warned that officials can award Philadelphia a touchdown if they deem it necessary.

  • Leapin’ Frankie Luvu

    Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu tries to beat the brotherly push by jumping over the line to get to Jalen hurts. But he has been called for tackles on two consecutive plays.